Interview with Author Nicole Platania
Nicole Platania, author of the Curse of Ophelia series and the upcoming Fatesworn Saga, is one of this month's Indie Author Spotlights! We were thrilled to work with her on her candle collection, and she was kind enough to come down to our warehouse studio to create candles in person with us. It's been such a joy to work with Nicole, and she spoke with us about her stories, advice for other indie authors, and more!
Nicole Platania was born and raised in Los Angeles and completed her B.A. in Communications at the University of California, Santa Barbara. After two years of working in social media marketing, she traded Santa Barbara beaches for the rainy magic of London, where she completed her Masters in Creative Writing at Birkbeck, University of London. Nicole harbors a love for broken and twisty characters, stories that feel like puzzles, and all things romance. She can always be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine in hand, ready to discuss everything from celebrity gossip to your latest book theories.
First and foremost, we should talk about your series: The Curse of Ophelia. What was your inspiration for this series?
The world of this series existed as a spin-off from a different world I was writing in, and I knew I'd go there one day. But it wasn't until one night when I randomly had an idea about a heart-broken girl with magenta eyes on the hunt for the boy she loved that I knew what I was going to write about first in this world. And from there the pieces really fell into place. Ophelia has a lot of Hercules mythology woven into her story.
We are huge readers here at Briarwick. From a non-author perspective, it seems like world-building is the most difficult part of writing a fantasy. What is your process for building a fantasy world, and what were the unexpected world building challenges that came up throughout the writing of this series?
I knew the feeling I wanted my world to evoke and some of the key pieces of history. History, lore, and mythology inform a lot of the background for me personally when I'm world building. Then there's the fun part of getting to build different cultures. What would they wear? What are their beliefs? How do they differ? One challenge with writing something of this scale though is having to consider everything. There are a lot of moving parts that could come up a few books later, so it's important to try to keep everything in order in the early planning stages while still allowing room for the story to grow.
What do you hope that readers take away from your stories?
I always hope readers will feel seen. Sometimes I think it can be really hard to put our own thoughts and emotions into words but when we see them on a page we understand them better. Something clicks. Whether it's a character they needed or an overarching message, I hope my books can give readers a place to understand things, feel understood, and maybe escape.
What are your favorite tropes to write?
Found family is one of my all times favorites. I think it's something so many of us yearn for. I also love writing any story where he falls first, forced proximity, star crossed romances, meddling gods, and prophecies that connect in twisty ways.
What made you want to be an author?
I don't remember a time when I didn't want to be an author. I always loved books and was moved by stories. But for a while it felt like something so far out of reach until I learned more about indie publishing.
Are there any other genres that you'd be interested in writing?
Honestly, I don't know that'll I'll ever fully depart from romantasy. I love the stakes, the magic, the possibilities. But my upcoming release does blend genres (murder mystery with celestial romantasy), and I have a lot more ideas of how to blend romantic suspense and mysteries with romantasy that I'm excited about.
What is your favorite thing about indie publishing?
There are a thousand ways to be an indie author, and I think that's very cool. It's not a career that fits into a box, and you can truly make it whatever you want. There's so much potential, and given that you run the show, if you have a cool idea you want to try, there's no one telling you no.
As you've now self-published multiple books, what is some advice that you'd give to aspiring indie authors?
It's cliche but write for yourself first. There are so many voices, especially with how much access readers have to authors via social media. It is so important to keep your eyes on your own paper, set your goals for yourself, and write a book you truly love. I promise, you will be so much happier if you focus on yourself than if you play the comparison game.
What are some other indie romances that we need to read?
So many come to mind!
- The House of Devils series by Kayla Edwards (these were recently picked up for traditional publishing but please check them out!)
- Melissa K. Roehrich's books (all of them!)
- Ballad of Whispers by K.B. Eizabeth
- Blood & Betrayals by Alexis Rune and Jeanette Rose (this was also recently picked up but is rereleasing soon)
- A Lesson in Deceit by Allie Shante
What is the best way to support you as an indie author?
Talking about my books. I always say word of mouth is the absolute best marketing a book can receive. So if you enjoy my books, please tell others!
If you want to make sure to stay up to date on Nicole’s books & news, there are plenty of ways to do so! Join her newsletter, The Gallantia Gazette, via her website, her Facebook Group (Nicole's Angel Realm), her Discord (The Cub's Tavern), or connect with her via social media at @bynicoleplatania.
What’s next for you?
I have a new Romantic Fantasy series launching this year! The series is called The Fatesworn Saga, and it's a murder mystery meets celestial romantasy. Book 1, Scars Beneath a Serpent's Scales, releases March 26th and is available to preorder now in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook!
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